Monstrous
by Leafy
Author's Note: This is my first LOTR fanfic ever. It is loosely based on an episode of the television show "Red Dwarf".
Also, this fic is more based on the movie of Fellowship of the Ring, rather than the books.
I hope you all enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I, the author of this fic, do not own anything Lord of the Rings or Red Dwarf.
Thank you for the nice reviews, everybody.
AloriaMoonbeam: Hehe, thanks. :-)
Sarridy: Good suggestions! Just remember, the monster only takes negative emotions right now. :-) What negative emotion might Lego possess…? :-)
N'ataya: Thank you! I can't take all the credit for the story idea, though. It's based a little bit on an episode of Red Dwarf, but yeah, the writing is mine. :-) Thanks again!
P. N. Batgirl: Thanks! When I was outlining the story, I tried to think of what would be the funniest negative aspect to remove from each person. I'm glad you're enjoying the story! :-)
Tiggivon: Thank you for all the wonderful reviews. I think it would be sooo cool if they could actually film this…Oh well. Guess we'll just have to settle for our imaginations for now. :-) Thanks again!
Europa and Marissa: Watch and see, dahlings. :-)
On with the story!
* * *
Legolas stepped uneasily into the clearing. He felt sure he'd heard something coming from this spot. So sure, in fact, that he'd gotten up in the middle of breakfast and left without a word. He'd assumed the others would understand, if it was, in fact, the monster.
He began to feel foolish. It was probably nothing more than a fox or a bird. He turned to go back to the camp, and almost stepped on Gimli, who greeted him with his now-usual sunny grin.
"Top of the morning, Master Elf!" he exploded.
"Sorry about that," replied Legolas absently, looking through the trees and back to the camp, which he could see was empty.
"Have they gone?' he asked, surprised. Surely, they'd have waited for him.
"Oh, no," said Gimli sweetly. "They're over on the other side of those trees; they sent me to look for you."
"Oh, well, come on, then," said Legolas, stepping toward the trees.
"Only, they're not ready now," said Gimli, amused. "They think they spotted the monster, right before they sent me to look for you. So now, I'm to stay here with you, so that, if the monster comes back through the camp this way, we'll get him."
"Oh," Legolas turned around, positioned himself next to the dwarf, and drew his bow.
They stood in silence for a few minutes, then Gimli spoke again.
"You know, Master Elf, I think we can vanquish this monster ourselves, just the two of us."
"Indeed," said Legolas shortly, not taking his eyes off the camp.
"In fact, I'm certain that you alone could take care of it," Gimli continued.
Legolas looked down at him.
"Are you leaving, friend?"
"No, no--I'm just paying you a compliment. You're an astounding warrior, you are."
Legolas blushed and looked abruptly away, back at the camp again.
"As are you, Master Gimli," he said quietly.
"Aye, but compared to you," said Gimli, oozing with admiration, "I'm--inexperienced."
"Nonsense," said Legolas, looking back down at Gimli, furrowing his brow in confusion. "Are you alright?"
"Of course, of course," Gimli chuckled. "Wonderful, really, since the monster dealt with me. I feel so much more--optimistic now, you know?"
"Of course," muttered Legolas, returning to his post.
"For instance," Gimli continued, "before I was fortunate enough to be changed, I never even noticed how wonderfully perfect you are."
"I'm not perfect," said Legolas automatically.
"Oh, come now," replied Gimli. "You can't expect me to believe that. You're an incredible warrior, you're brave, courageous, graceful, intelligent. And handsome, aye, I'll wager you've had your share of romances in your near three thousand years of life."
Legolas flushed ever redder. He knew that Gimli couldn't help acting this way, but it was beginning to become trying.
"Not really," he murmured in response.
"There's no need to be modest," said Gimli, delighted. "I know you must've been quite a presence with the ladies back in your land. How could you not? Don't tell me you've never noticed your own fortunate appearance."
Gimli then thrust his axe, which, thanks to Merry, had been polished to within an inch of its existence and now shone brilliantly, at the elf, tilting it so that the flat end faced up.
Legolas took it from him, mainly to avoid getting socked in the stomach with it, and looked down, catching his reflection in the metal, mainly to quell Gimli. If the monster was anywhere near, it would surely be able to hear them.
He took in his own face, his hair, his eyes. It had been a long time since Legolas had really studied his own face. Looking at it now, in the bright sun of the morning, in the shining face of Gimli's axe, he could hardly deny what was said. And why should he?
"Yes," said Legolas softly. "Yes, I suppose so."
"I was hoping you'd said that!" roared Gimli, sounding suddenly, startlingly, loud and ferocious.
Legolas looked up sharply, in time to see that Gimli was no longer Gimli; he had mutated suddenly, into the great, slimy monster. It snarled at Legolas, opening its mouth. Legolas threw the axe, which grazed the monster's shoulder, then loosed his arrow, which planted itself in the monster's chest, where Legolas supposed its heart was. Though the beast roared in pain at this, it did not give any indication of falling. Quickly, Legolas reached behind him for another arrow, but the monster, with reflexes as quick as his, sprang forward and slashed the strap across Legolas' chest, which secured his quiver to his back. His arrows scattered onto the ground behind him. Legolas backed up slowly. He didn't have his knives.
The elf turned to flee, for the first time from a single foe. The beast reached forward, snagging Legolas' shoulder with the sharp claws of its right hand. It spun him around and began its grave sucking noise.
**********
Aragorn stood in the clearing, the leaves falling from the trees into his hair, the wind hissing through the branches, the sun glittering down on him. Normally, he would've found all of this exhilarating, but right now, he felt like he might cry with frustration. At his feet lay the unconscious body of the elf of the fellowship.
Aragorn knew what had happened to him. In a minute, he would lean down and wake him, but right then, he felt that he should wait for the other stable ones to come first. Aragorn felt so nearly-unglued at the moment, that he was afraid he might do something rash, like kick Legolas, or grab his bow and snap it in two.
This new loss just tore Aragorn's hopes for the fellowship to shreds. Since this fiasco began, he'd felt sure that Legolas, of all his comrades, would be able indefinitely to keep the monster at bay. If even he couldn't keep himself from being deceived, how could Aragorn continue to believe that he, or a couple of hobbits, or even Gandalf could protect themselves?
Not a moment too soon, Gandalf, Sam, and Pippin came crashing through the trees, followed by the unbalanced others.
"Oh, no," moaned Sam, leaning down at Legolas' side. "Him, too?"
"Yes," breathed Aragorn.
"Well, at least he looks like he put up a fight," said Frodo emphatically, taking in the elf's slashed shoulder, and the ripped front of his tunic. He leaned down at his other side and poked the uninjured shoulder.
Legolas sat up, mumbling incoherently and rubbing his head.
"What happened?" he asked, squinting around at the others.
"I'm afraid--the monster got to you," said Gandalf in a hushed voice.
"Has it?" Legolas replied, his mouth falling open slightly. "And, what's it done?"
"Well…we don't know. Only you can tell, I suppose," said Gandalf, confusion rising in his voice.
Aragorn, who was clenching his teeth so hard that it felt like he was pushing them back up into the gums, swallowed his anger and frustration to speak.
"How do you feel, Legolas?" he asked.
"Ummm…" he paused to consider. "Fine, I suppose," he stood up, brushing the dirt off his hands, transferring it to the front of his tunic. "Should we go?" he asked, setting off out of the clearing.
"Might as well," replied Aragorn quietly, looking after him.
"Wait," said Gandalf.
Aragorn turned.
"He'll be needing those," the wizard pointed to the ground, at the jumbled pile of arrows there.
Aragorn knelt down stiffly, picking them up. He stood up again, looking toward the figure of the elf, slouched along the trees. He looked at the wizard.
"Dare I ask?" he muttered.
"It's a bit early to tell," said Gandalf, "but, it seems to have taken away his vanity."
"Vanity?" said Pippin, coming forward. "But, Legolas isn't vain."
"He doesn't have to be very vain to have some vanity in him, Peregrine," explained Gandalf. "You are not a vain person, and neither am I, but we both take care of ourselves, don't we? Almost all of us take at least some pride in our appearance. So does Legolas. He takes pride in his appearance, his skills, and his actions."
"Or, he used to," added Aragorn.
**********
"Legolas, hold still," Merry insisted. "I'm trying to dress your wound."
"Why?" demanded Legolas, from his slouched position on the ground. "It's so little--it's barely there."
"Do you want it to get infected?" Merry shot back, standing at the elf's side, attempting the wrap a bandage under his arm.
"I don't care," said Legolas, pulling away again, causing it all to come unraveled.
"Oh," Merry burst out in frustration. "Fine," he snapped. "You want an infected wound? Be my guest. I have to go get ready anyway," he stalked off toward his perfectly prepared pack, with his folded cloak draped on top.
"Sam, Pippin, you stay here," said Aragorn. "Boromir will stay with you."
"Why must we stay?" demanded Sam, looking edgily at Frodo, who, having been forced to give back Boromir's sword, was now collecting rocks from around the campsite, filling his pockets and his hands.
"Because we don't want to lose either of you to the monster," said Aragorn, who'd calmed down slightly since his finding back at the clearing. He walked over to Sam and knelt down to look at him. "Gandalf and I can watch out for each other…and we'll both watch out for Frodo," he said softly. He looked meaningfully at Sam, then straightened up and returned to Gandalf's side, grabbing Merry, who'd been running laps around the camp to pass the time, by the collar and slinging the hobbit's well-maintained sword into his hand, then dragging him over to the wizard as well.
Aragorn then gripped the handle of his own sword in its sheath and glanced at Gandalf. Gandlaf turned to the remaining hobbits and human sitting around the campfire.
"With any luck, we'll be back before sundown," said the wizard.
He turned around and walked into the woods, quickly followed by Aragorn (sword drawn), Frodo (pebble-crammed fists at the ready), Merry (practicing sword-fighting maneuvers as he went), Gimli (beaming like a balloon vender), and Legolas (hair hanging in his face, feet dragging in the dirt).
As usual, very little sunlight crept through the branches of the many tall trees, and so, the hunters were quickly plunged into near-complete darkness.
"Stay close," murmured Aragorn.
**********
"Boromir, don't you want your sword?" asked Pippin, shifting his gaze from the discarded blade in the dirt to the man loitering by the trees.
"No," he replied automatically. "I have no need for it."
"But what will you do if the monster comes?" demanded Sam. "How will you defend yourself--defend all of us?"
"Surely, you two brave souls can mange it yourselves. I'm no kind of warrior," Boromir responded sullenly.
"Yes, you are!" Sam snapped, looking up at him in annoyance. He was still a bit angry that he hadn't been allowed to go along with Frodo, much as he trusted Aragorn and Gandalf.
"And, we would need your help, you know that!" Pippin threw in.
"I used to know that," Boromir corrected him softly. "Now, I know better."
"For pity's sake, Boromir," Sam began, but was interrupted by a familiar growling.
Turning, Sam saw Pippin from behind, faced with the revolting beast. Pippin's sword was drawn, his arm trembling. It snapped at Pippin, who recoiled, thrusting his sword at the beast. The blade sunk into its collarbone a few inches, pushing Pippin into an awkward position on his toes, unable to pull his sword out.
In a second, the monster did it for him, whipping itself backwards, and sending Pippin flying back toward Sam.
The hobbit landed with strong force, which caused his sword to fly out of his hand and his reach. The monster leaped toward him.
"No!" shouted Sam, springing into action, lunging, sword drawn, for the beast.
The beast lunged back, pinning him to the ground. Sam clutched his sword, but was unable to move it, under the beast's forceful restraint.
Just then, Sam heard Pippin's voice bellowing in protest as he attacked the beast from behind. Boromir, suddenly, thankfully, regaining some confidence, appeared then at the monster's side, slicing into its leg.
The monster roared, knashed its teeth at its assailants, then, leaping off of Sam, ran back into the trees.
"After it!" cried Sam, scrambling to his feet.
**********
The three were so close to catching the beast at that point, that none of them paid any mind to staying together, and, of course, they were instantly separated.
Sam ran, sword out in front of him, through the trees. He could hear the monster's panting close by, as well as voices, which sounded like they could have belonged to the six others in the fellowship. Perhaps they were close enough to help…
Suddenly, all noise in the wood stopped. Sam, who had just run into a small clearing, stopped also, his sword poised. He waited, two minutes, then three, then five minutes, waiting for something to happen, some sound to reach his ears. But nothing came.
Finally, Sam turned to leave the clearing, but just as he did, the monster jumped through the trees, flying toward him, looking viciously put out. No time to think, Sam threw himself flat on the ground, allowing the beast to fly right over him, and out the other side of the clearing.
Instantly, the yelling of many voices took up on the other side of the trees. The monster roared louder than Sam had ever heard it, then all was silent again.
Sam lifted his head slowly. What had happened?
Suddenly, Gandalf, looking stunned and overwhelmed, came stumbling into the dimly lit space. He looked down at Sam with shocked sympathy. Sam shuddered.
"What's wrong?" he asked the wizard. "What's happened?"
"It's--it's killed Frodo," murmured Gandalf. "The monster's killed him."
~~~End of Part 5
Author's Note: Sorry it's been so long since I last updated! Thank you all for your patience, and your reviews. I've loved reading them. Again, please review if you like, I'd love to know what you think. :-)